To Susan and SB fans:
The performance and the aftermath have been major DRBU equivalents. Not sure what a DBRU is? Please let me explain.
Gary Larson, the comic genius who gave us the immortal The Far Side cartoon series, inspired the concept.
The particular "Far Side" cartoon that gave birth to my DBRU equivalent was one depicting a large, deceased rhino covered by buzzards with more filling the sky, arriving to join in the feast. In the caption, one buzzard remarks to another, "Just think, here we are, the afternoon sun beating down upon us, a dead bloated rhino underfoot and good friends flying in from all over. I tell you, Frank, this is the best of times."
I looked at that picture, thought of those words and asked myself that question -- that is, what, exactly, ARE the best of times" in my life? Ever since, Ive been asking audiences this question: Are you getting enough DBRUs? That is, enough dead bloated rhino underfoot equivalents?"
Thats my neat idea, my contribution to the advancement of wellness and self-management. That's what Susan song and Susan's success story is for me and millions - huge DRBU equivalent.
I suggest we all put this question to ourselves on a regular basis. Am I getting enough DBRU equivalents. What are the best of times and are these experiences occurring with sufficient frequency to make life wonderful? If not, take steps to rectify the situation.
I did one of my famous double-blind, crossover trials of a longitudinal, horizontal and dignified nature a few years ago and discovered we all need a MINIMUM daily requirement of 23 DBRU equivalents. They need not be spectacular. Instead, little pleasures, simple reflections of gratitude and conscious appreciations of wonder will do nicely. When you wake, be grateful you are still alive, living in a free country (if you are) with plenty to eat, that your kids are not in jail (assuming they're not) and that the sun is still up there and that we continue to revolve on planet Earth, not too fast and not too slow. There -- you already would have six DBRU equivalents -- and youre not even out of bed yet! In other words, DBRU equivalents need not be epic and triumphant events, like recovery from a grave illness, hitting the lottery, winning the Tour De France, climbing Mt. Everest in the nude or discovering Susan Boyle. Little pleasures throughout the day will do the trick. Tune in to these little delights, bring them into conscious awareness, celebrate them and pause often to honor your good fortune! By the end of the day, you could have pondered hundreds of these wonders, let alone the minimum 23 -- and you will be richer (and healthier) for it!
I hope this puts you in a good and inquisitive mood for the day and fires up your commitment to take charge of your life and develop a strong interest in self-management. It's time to go out there and celebrate life more than you already do, to seek DBRU equivalents and ways to get fitter, to have more fun and play, richer relationships, more emotional intelligence, to be a more critical thinker and to discover added meanings of and purposes for living, in YOUR unique fashion.
As my then high school-age daughter once said to me, "Dad, may all your dead rhinos be like totally bloated on this lovely day."
Its a pity governments don't set and subsidize standards for DBRU equivalents, but as with other worthwhile things, these you must do for yourself. Thanks, Susan Boyle.
Don Ardell
www.seekwellness.com/wellness